The Isabelle McNeill MPhil Studentship in Film and Screen Studies
Support the future of film and screen scholarship
Giving talented postgraduate students the opportunity to study at Cambridge.
Trinity Hall and the Faculty of Modern and Medieval Languages and Linguistics are establishing a studentship in memory of Dr Isabelle McNeill, a distinguished researcher of French film, former Chair of the Cambridge Film Festival, and recipient of a Cambridge University 2025 Pilkington Prize for teaching excellence. Isabelle played a formative role in shaping the MPhil in Film and Screen Studies, and this Studentship will support a talented postgraduate pursuing the programme and honouring her remarkable contributions.
Commitment to access and excellence
Funding for the arts and humanities at postgraduate level continues to decline at an alarming rate. As a result, many talented applicants are unable to pursue their studies simply because they cannot secure the financial support required.
Make a gift towards the Isabelle McNeill MPhil Studentship in Film and Screen Studies and give a talented postgraduate student the opportunity to study at Cambridge.
At Trinity Hall, we are committed to the principle that no student should be deterred from studying because of financial barriers. Many qualified applicants face growing financial pressure, often graduating with significant debt, while government funding for arts and humanities declines. As a result, around 40% of postgraduate offer holders cannot accept their places due to insufficient funding.
Supporting a postgraduate student is transformative. A fully funded studentship—covering both course fees and maintenance—removes the financial weight that prevents many strong candidates from continuing their academic journey.
The Isabelle McNeill Studentship
To meet this challenge, we are establishing the Isabelle McNeill Studentship. The full cost of the MPhil in Film and Screen Studies is £31,000 for a UK student. The Department of Modern and Medieval Languages and Linguistics, together with the College, will provide half of the funding, and we are seeking to raise an additional £16,000 to fully establish the studentship for a UK student. This award will provide vital support to a deserving Film Studies postgraduate, covering both course fees and maintenance. Your donation will help ensure that financial barriers do not prevent exceptional students from fulfilling their academic potential.
How you can help
Your donation will support an outstanding Film and Screen Studies postgraduate student.
Contact us
For more information about the Studentship, or any of our Anniversary Campaign projects, please contact Dr Rachelle Stretch or Donna Thomas-Watson at development@trinhall.cam.ac.uk.
Thank you for your support.